Combined manually and mechanically operated piano.



110,871,918. PATENTED NOV. 26. 1907.

J. W. DARLEY, JR.

COMBINED MANUALLY AND MEGHANIGALLY OPERATED PIANO.

APPLIOATIOH TILED DEC. 7, 1905.

3 SHEETS SHEET 1.

@ Enema: I W" [a wait/Xian 6% v ,/M Swot-war! No. 871,918. PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

J. w. DARLBY, JR. COMBINED MANUALLY AND MEGHANIGALLY OPERATED PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. '1, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn na 19% Human PATENTED NOV. 26, 1907.

J: W. DARLBY, 5R

GALLY OPERATED PIANO,

GUMBINED MANUALLY AND MBGHANE APPLIUATZON FILED DEG.

00c-00cccoo0090000009 UNITED STATES rATENT OFFICE.-

JOHN W. DARLEY, JR, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE WM. KNABE & CO.

MANUFACTURING COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE,-MARYLAND, A COR- PORATION OF MARYLAND.

COM BINED KAN'UALLY AND MECHANICALLY OPERATED PIANO.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 7. 1905- Berial No. 290.794.

Patented Nov. 26, 1907.

This invention relates to that class of mu- I sical instruments in which a piano 'action and autopneurnatic layer are combined in one organization, w ereby the instrument can be played either manually by fingering the keys or mechanically by operation of the pneumatics u on-the parts which control the ammers of t e piano-action.

The invention is more particularly an improvement upon instruments of the t pe illustrated and d cribed in my co-pen g a plication for sfitent Serial No. 277989, filed September 11, 1905, and rovides: (1st) simplification and general vimprovement in the structure and mechanical organization of the instrument; (2nd) improved means for adjustment of the action with respect to the key and with respect to the pneumatic striker or actuator, from either of which the piano-action is operative for producing the stroke of the hammer upon the string and effecting the recoil of the hammer; (3rd) improved structureand arrange merit of the tracker-bar pi es or pneumatic tubes such manner as to acilitate the construction and assemblage of the instrument, permit the introduction or removal of the whole series of pipes in mass, without affecting their relation and without requiring se aration, removal or derangement of ot er mechanisms of the instrument, and also afford exposure of practically the entire front of the piano-action, leaving the same conveniently accessible for adjustments and the like, and disassociatin the tracker-bar pipes from the keys or key-fevers, (4th) improved means for connectionof the said tracker-bar pipes with the wind-chest or suction-box containing the series of pneumatics, in such manner as to simplify the matter of introducing or removing this part of the instrument and to afford convenient means for-disassociating the tracker-bar pipes therefrom fication.

and allow access to the wind-chest for ad justment of the pneumatics; (5th) improved structure and arrangement of the several mechanisms composing the piano organization, particularly the mechanism of the action, in such manner as to facilitate the construction, assemblage and adjustment ofv the instrument, and permit removal of the mechanisms or groups of instrumentalities without dismantling the entire mechanism or deranging the respective mechanisms or groups 0 instrurnentalities, also permitting the introduction or withdrawal 'of the wholeseries of tracker-bar pipes between adjacent elements of the action; together with various incidental features of improvement as hereinafter explained. j

One preferred form or embodiment of my invention is re resented in the accompanying drawin s, w 'ch form a part of this speciithout essential limitation to the specific illustrated structure, the invention will hereinafter be fully described with,

reference to said drawings, and then more particularly pointed out and defined in the ap ended claims.

11 said drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical cross-section of the instrument, taken at the right of the wind-chest or suction-box and looking toward the op osite or-left-hand end of the instrument, an showing parts of the interior construction in elevation Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front view of the interior construction of the instrument, the front portion of the piano case being removed and the bed of the keyboard being in vertical section, showing ap roximately the right hand half-portion of the music-roll frame, tracker-bar, neumatic tubes or tracker-bar pipes, windest or suction-box, and actionrarls and supporting brackets therefor, but not showing the keys nor the mechanism of the piano-action proper. Fig. 3 is a to plan view of the wind-chest together with the grids or frames at its opposite ends which support the lower lengths of the tracker-bar pipes. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the removable front of the wind-chest, together with the said grids or frames which are rigid with said front, and which as aforesaid support the lower lengths of the tracker-bar pipes which communicate directly with the pneumatics inside the wind-chest. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one of the lower action 'musicsheet through the agency of an a is verticaHy disposed close behind the rear end of the key-lever 2, and is independently operative from or lifta ble by either the keylever or the pneumatic strikeror elevator For, this purpose, supported'by th adjusting screw 21 tapped through the L- shaped foot or toe of the abstract and havin a bottom cap resting on the striker; while the rear end of the key-lever 2 carr'cs an up-- standing ad ustable capstan-screw a removable piece Fig. 6 is. a front without its said an enlarged erdaction-brac et, piece, secured in brackets, together with which is shown detached. view of said action-bracket, removable piece. Fig. 7 is s ective of a fragment of sai sliowing its said removable place.

A particular explanation of the illustrated construction is as follows: The piano-action is arranged as usual in the case 1 and is adapted to be actuated either by the keys 2 or by the strikers or lifters 3, the latter being operated from the pneumatics (not shown) contained in the wind-chest or vacuum-boX 4 whereby, through either agency, the hammers 5 are caused to strike upon and recoil from the strings 6. The said strikers 3 are puppets or studs row and verti guide-openings therefor wind-chest 4 22, shown taking under a forward extension of the up per link or lever 18, whereby the abstract is supportable and liftable thereby, or in lieu o t is extension l8, the abstract may be' provided with a front projection 'on said capstan-screw 22. Thus t action can be actuated either manu t e keys or mechanically from the pneu- Inatics when brought into play .bythe wind- "irlducing apparatus c 1e plan 0- rear end of the matic striker, but tion with either, and prefera ly also without positive. connection with the heet mechanism, mounted in the frame 7 d havin the well-known characteristics of the tracker-bar 8 and perforated web or music-sheet 9 adapted to traverse the trackerbar for controlling the admission of arr to the ducts thereof; the music-sheet being rolled u on the removable musicspool 10' and adapted in o eration to wind on to the takeup roll 11. rom the tracker-bar 8 the neumatic tubes or tracker-bar pipes 12 and 13 extend down to the wind-chest 4, contaimng the series of pneumatics which 0 erate the corre-' sponding strikers 3 and W ch are respectively connected with the corres on in ducts in the tracker-bar. It is un erstoo of course that the regulation of the operative length of the abstract between the key-lever and the WiP? usting screw 21 at the foot of the abstract allows regulation of the len thacting between e wipp stri en;- and by proper manipulation independent adjusting means the dispositions of parts necessary to perfect actionare attainable.

e construction for supporting and adjusting the two divisions or mechanisms of t e action is 'ally similar h in my aforesaid application, Serial i o.' 277989, except in one particular, as hereinafter explained. The lower action-rail 20 is supported by its outer or end brackets 25 and intermediate brackets 26, which are secured upon the bed 29 of the keyboard. Upper action-rail 15 is supported hySuperimposed upper brackets, namelyits outer or end brackets 23 and intermediate brackets 24. The upper ends of the several upper are attached to the l)H(;-\' frame of t e instrument by means of the usual caded screws 27 entered into the projecting stu( s or posts 28. e upper outside or end brackets 23 are supported on osts or pen; whilethe adj of these such as the usual he performers feet,

be ows operated by t wfer for runmng the which also furnishes po ropriate motor; all of which is so we 1- linown that s ecific representatlon and further explanationthereof are deemed unnecessary.

Referring to the action, the same cornprises two correlated mechanisms supported res ectjvel by the upper and lower act on rai s 15 and 20. The upper mechanism comprises the hammer 5, its wippen or rocker 16, and associated controlling devices, foreffecting the stroke and the recover of the hammer. The lower mechanism comprises I the abstract or wippen actuating rod 1'2, which by means of the guide-links or levers ISand 19 is pivotally attached to and supported in position by the lower act on-rail wippen-acluatmg rod Said abstract or 17, whose unner end bears under the a 1p pen,

the keyboard an gitudinal slots 31 in the feet of tl 1 side brackets 25, permitting the latter transversely of the keyboard and action-rails. Said posts or bolsters 30 are shown surmounted by balls d projected supported A ally from en and accurate bolsters 30, which are screwiwl into lied 2!) of through lon- 32 engaged in cups orso'ckets 33 at the lower parts of the' superimposed brackets 23 the bolsters being ada ted to screw up and down in the bed 29 of t 1e keyboard to provide an adjustable support for the up er brackets; The means thus far describe for supporting and ad justing the brackets are similar to those shown and described in my aforesaid application, as before stated. But the upperintermediate brackets 24 are adjustably sup-J ported on the subjacent lower in ermediate rackets 26, by a different construction, now to be descrlbedv As shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6 and 7, the lower intermediate brackets 26 have removable or detachable top pieces 34, secured 1n the upper ends of the narrow vertically-disposed boxings 39. of said brackets 26. It is understood of screw 34".

pipes, as will be referred to laterl said removable top pieces 34 is shown in de-,

course that the intermediate brackets 24 and 26 are arranged in the usual widened spaces between the adjacent elements of the pianoaction left to accommodate such brackets," and the said boxings '39, which provide narrow vertically-disposed o enings therethrough transverseto the key ward and action, are intended for the passage of'the tracker-bar tail in Fig. 7. It comprises a block fitted between the sides of the boxing 39, supported therein by lugs 34 resting on the upper ends of said sides of the boxing and fastened by The function of said removable pieces 34 is to provide supports for the upper intermediate brackets 24, and yet permit detachment-of the tops of the boxings 39, so that the groups or clusters of the trackerbar pipes 12 can be placed directly in the boxings 39 or removed therefrom, without Sand detachab derangement of the pi es or necessity of introducing them throng the transverse openings or passages therefor in the boxings.

e top pieces 34 are shown formed with cups or sockets which receive balls 35 adjustably attached to the upper brackets 24, so as to accommodate ad ustment of the subjacent brackets 26 transversely of'the keyboard, corresponding to the similar adjustments of the lower end brackets roll frame 7, which is detac ably-mounted thereon.

' The air-tubes or tracker-bar fixed to and communicating wit tive ducts of thetracker-bar 8, extend or fan pipes 12, af-

One of application.

the respec-v out therefrom in two laterall diverging groups or divisions, the pipes 0 each group being brought closely together'and arranged in a narrow compact cluster. Fig, 2 shows only the right-hand group or division of the tracker-bar ipes, it being understood that the left-hand group is similar, except that it extends in the opposite direction in a metrical fashion. The said groups or ters of tracker-bar pi s extend to opposite sides of the music-r01 frame 7, and are then bent or carried directly downward and 'at the same time rearwardly, in front of the intermediate brackets 24 and 26, and they are then carried directly back through the narrow passages in the boxings 39, passing thus through the action over and behind the lower action-rail 20. They are then bent laterall outward. (to the right in Fig. 2 and to thele t at the opposite unshown side of the piano),

and extend out horizontally or longitudinally. of the action-rail 20 to positions approxiymately above or just ast the opposite ends of the subjacent win( -box 4, the horizontal runs of the pipes above the action-rail 20 being sup ortec b the plates or boards 47 mounte on sai action-rail by the ins or wires 48 The pipes are then carried irectly downward just past the op osite ends ,of the wind-chest 4, and behind t e same; and the lowermost ends of the pipes arethen distributed to the rows or series ,of ductsin the vertical boards, strips or elongated blocks 50,

which are arranged at and vertically alongside the opposite ends of the wind-chest, ap-

The said' proximatel at the back thereof.

ipes 12, which may be termed rimary pipe engths, terminate in the ducts 0 said vertical boards 50, which ducts register or communicate with corresponding grou s of secondary pipe lengths 13, as now to e explained, the 'said secondary' pipe lengths 13 being continuations of the primary pipe lengths 12, and leading to the respective pneumatics contained in the wind-chest 4, thereby con- SKID- 0 US- I necting the ducts of the tracker-bar with their corresponding neumatics.

Thewind-chest or vacuumbox 4, as be-- fore mentioned, has a removable front late or cover 14, detachably secured to the rout of the box to permit access thereto for adjust-ment of the pneumatics, &c., when the lower frontpanel of the piano case is removed. Said front plate 14 projects beyond the opposite ends of the WlIld-bOX, and

as affixed thereto, at the ends of its back side, rids orfranies 51, extending back beside t e ends of the wind-chest. See Figs. 1, 3 and 4. 'Said rids or frames 51 each consists of a vertica front strip or board 52, and

a parallel back strip or board 53, spaced and connected by hollow or slotted rods 54. The secondary pipe lengths 13 of the tracker-bar pipes have their ends cementedin or otherwise connected to the ducts in the, back structure be introduced into or taken from the instrument. It is noted that the lower ends of ,the primary pipe lengths 12 termi- Hate in the boards 50 which are attached fiatwise against the rear boards 53 ofthe IlClS 70 boards 53 of the grids, which ductsre'gis'ter with those in the ards-50, in'which the ends of the prim'ar pipe lengths 12, are cemented or affixed Said secondary pipe lengths 13 are supported by the grids or frames..51 as shown in Figs. ,1, 3 and 4, the pipes passing through the front boards 52 and along the back side of the front plate 14 0 t e wind chest, which front plate is channeled or recessed to receive said pipes; and

ence, when the boards. 50 are. released from 75 spectively with the neumatics corresponding to the respective ducts of the tracker-bar, which construction being well understood is 15 not represented. T e grids or frames 51 are clam ed to the front 14 by t e screws 55, which also bind the boards 50 to the r1d s;

tracker-bar 8, can be sim ly lifted out Without obstruction, as wou d not be the case 80 t e front plate 14, boards 52 and 53, and I preferably passing through the hollow or wise deranging the organization of this mech- 85 anism. T e mode of correlating the 'secondary pipe lengths 13 with the pneumatics in the wind-chest 4 is also of exceedin simplicity, since the-removable front plate 14 is struction, not only are the tracker-bar pipes sal secondary pipe lengths are supported thereby and by the end rids 51 which are y arranged at the ends of t e wind-chest and I include the same between them.

Havin thus fully described my invention, 95 what I c aim as new and desire tosecure by. Letters Patent of'the United States is:

' e combination of a key-lever, a wi pen-actuating rod ad ustably su orted t ereon and liftable thereby, said ro aving 100 an adjustable foot, and 'a mechanical striker arranged to o erate on said foot.

' e com ination of a key-lever, a ca Stan-screw thereon, a wippen-actuating rod su ported by said screw, said rod extending 1 05 e ow the key-lever, a vertically adjustable screw carried by the lower end 0 said rod, and a mechanical striker arranged to operate on the last-mentioned screw, said screw adapted for adjusting the operative length 110 of said rod with res' ect to said striker.

l manually and mechan ically operated instrument, the combination o a piano-action, a ke lever, a mechanical striker, a mo'tion-transmitting rod for actu- 115 ating the piano-action vertically-disposed behind the rear end of the key-lever, said rod having means ad ustablv su ported by the rear end of the key-lever for ifting said rod,

said tracker-bar pipes are as a whole divided pipe lengths 12, together with the trackersupportinggrids 5-1 and front plate'or cover 14 of tie wind-chest to Wluchsaid grids or frames are attached.

n constructing and assembling the instrument, the wind-chest being properly located,

l its front plate 14 together with the grids 12 is then introduced, the two compact groups or clusters of such pipe lengths being let down into the open-topped boxings39 of brackets 26 of the lower mechanism of the piano-action; after which the top pieces 34 are secured to the tops of said boxings 39, and the upper mechanism of the piano-action is then mounted and adjusted in its place. The said primary lengths 12 of the tracker-bar pipes, grouped as described, are

preferably formed by a suitable molding method .into the desirable shape, the several pipes of each group being assembled together and preferably cemented or otherwise joined, so that the whole set of priijiarv tie key-lever and having means whereby it pipe'lengths 12 may as a complete unitary 1s supportable by said capstan-screw and 130 stri er.

4. In a combined manually and mechanically operated a l of a piano-action, a vertically movable actuating-rod. therefor, a key lever carrying at its 125 sim ly attached to the W1nd-b X, and the andkan adjustable foot supportable on the liftable by the key-lever, and said rod having ortable on the is liftable by the an adjustable foot su striker, whereby the ro striker. a

5. In a combined manually and mechanically operated instrument, the combination of an action-bracket having a boxing or passageway extending therethrough transversely of the keyboard, said boxing having a removable top piece, and a group of neumatic tubes or pipes extending throug said boxing and adapted to be placed therein or removed therefrom by removing said top piece.

6. ically operated instrument, the combination of a piano-action composed of upper and lower mechanisms supported res ectively by superimposed brackets, a lower racket having a boxing therein extending transversely of the keyboard, Said boxi having a removable top, the superimpose up er bracket being mounted upon said top, an a group of tracker-bar pipcs extending through said boxing, whereby the group of pipes can be introduced into or removed from the boxing by removing the to piece thereof.

7. In a combine manually and mechanically operated instrument, the combination of a bracket having a passageway therein, said bracket having a removable cap, and a group of pneumatic tubes or pipes arranged 'in said passage in said bracket and adapted to be placed therein or removed therefrom by removing said cap.

8..In an autopneumatic instrument, the combination'of a piano-action, a neumatic selective mechanism in front of t e action, and aset of pneumatic ipes arranged in two diverging groups exten ing from the selective mechanism and clustered together and carried back through the action, a pneumatic playing ap aratus connected to said pipes, act on-brac ets having bifurcated supports or open-ton ed pockets providin passages thercthroug transversely of the keyboard, and the said groups of pipes resting in said supports or pockets.

'9. In an autopneumatic instrument, the combination of a piano-action, a wind-chest containing a pneumatic playing apparatus below theaction, a pneumatic selective mechanism in front of the action, and a set of pneumatic pipes leading from said selective mechanism to the pneumatic playing apparatus, said pipes being arranged in'two diverging groups which are carried in com act clusters throu h the action and down be 'nd the same to t e opposite ends of the windchest, whence the pipes lead to the pneu-' below the action, a pneumatic selective dis ose In a combined manually and mechanbehind the same to the opposite ends of the wind-chest, verticallyis osed strips or boards having ducts in-whic the lower ends of said (pipes are affixed, said boards being at opposite ends of the wind-chest an approximately at the back thereof, secondary pipe lengths connected with the respective pneumatics within the wind-chest and forming continuations of the said tracker-bar pipes, the ends of said secondary pipe len ths being affixed in ducts in strips or boar s detachably clamped to the first mentioned strips or boards, whereby the whole series 0 primary trackerbar pipe lengths can be detached from the pneumatic playing apparatus and lifted up frombe- .iind the same to the action.

11. In an autopneumatic instrument, the combination of the piano-action and keyboard, a wind-chest or box containing a neumatic playing apparatus below. the eyboard, said wind-chest having a removab e front, a series of pneumatic pipes su orted in association with said removab e ront and leading therefrom alon o posite ends of the wind-chest to the bee thereof, and a continuing series of pipes detachablyconnected therewith and arranged in two compact. clusters in front of the action, and

sis

a tracker-bar connected with the upper ends of said ipes.

n an autopneumatic instrument, thecombination of the piano-action and keyboard, a wind-chest below the keyboard 0on taining the pneumatic playing apparatus, said wind-chest having a remove e front, I

from the back of the wind-chest at opposite ends thereof to the front and to the pneumatics within the wind-chest, aneumatic selective mechanism in front of t 0 action, and. a series of pneumatic pipes leadin therefrom to the first mentioned series 0 pipes and arranged in two diverging oups w ich are carried in com act 0 usters through the action, strips or looks having ducts in which the lower ends of said groups of ipes are affixed, said ducts registeri wit 1 the "ends of the pipes carried by sai grids or frames.

13. The combination of supports having open-topped boxings or assages, trackerbar pipes therein, detacha 1e covers thereon, and action-supporting brackets mounted on said covers. I

, 14. The combination with the key-board ing sockets or seats bed, of a piano-action comprising upper and lower mechanisms, supports for the lower mechanism mounted on said bed, and groups or clusters of pneumatic pipes arranged transversely of the action, said supports havfor holding said roups or clusters of pneumaticipes and a apted to receive such groups 0 pipes through the tops of said sockets, and the upper mechanism being mounted upon said supports and removable as a whole, the groups of pipes being liftable out of said sockets when theupper mechanism is removed.

15. The combination with the key-board, of a tracker-bar above the same, pipes connected therewith and arranged in two diverging groups or clusters, supports mounted ,on the key-board bed, said supports having sockets which hold said groups of pipes, an action-mechanism mounted on said supports, the said groups of pipes being let down into said sockets before mounting said action-mechanism, and pneuniatics connect ed with said pipes.

16. The combination with the piano-action and key-board,

of a box containing a supported by said pneumatic-playing apparatus below the key oard, said box having a removable front, a series of pipes supported in association with said front and leading from opposite ends thereof backwardly along opposite ends of said box, ably connected therewith, and a tracker-bar connected with the latter.

17. The combination with the piano-action and key-board, of a box containing a pneumatic-playing apparatus below the keyoard, said box having a removable front, grids extending backwardly from said front beside the opposite ends of said box, ipes grids and arranged for connection with the pneumatic apparatus within said box, and a tracker-bar and pipes leading therefrom and detachably connected with the ends of said first-mentioned pipes.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN W. DARLEY, JR.

Witnesses: L

CHARLES R. BOETTGER, E. A. DOLLE.

a continuing series of pipes detach 

